Why Are There Fewer Ferraris in Red?

Think Ferrari, and you probably think of only one color: "Rosso Corsa," or racing red, the hue that's been synonymous with the Italian manufacturer for decades.

But a recent visit to the Maranello factory revealed a curious trend: orders for traditional "Ferrari Red" are at an all-time low (40 percent, in fact), giving way to a broader array of non-metallic, pearlescent, and even matte finishes, not to mention alternate shades like "Rosso Berlinetta" and "Rosso Fuoco." Traditional red is still the most popular color for a Ferrari, but other colors are growing in popularity like yellow, which is the second most popular choice among customers. Also capturing the fancy of new buyers is an expensive three-layer finish, which adds a degree of depth to the finish.

Senior Vice President of Communications Stefano Lai suggests red's waning trend may have to do with the range of styling in Ferrari's growing portfolio, which will expand to five when the V12-powered F12berlinetta hits our shores early next year. "Perhaps it's because some people think they look nicer in colors other than traditional red," he suggests.

Lai also believes that the emerging popularity of white could be attributable to a certain Cupertino-based personal electronics manufacturer. "It's my personal opinion that Apple transformed white into a technological color," he says, adding that regionality also plays a role in color popularity. "White is not so popular in the UK or Sweden, but it's more common in warm Southern European climates like Spain."

Are we entering an era where Ferraris will no longer automatically associated with traditional Rosso Corsa? While historians will may disagree, the answer really depends on the tastes-- and buying habits-- of the next generation of Ferrari fans.

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